Alexander vs. the Persians – Round 1 THE BATTLE OF GRANICUS Alexander vs. the Persians – Round 1

HOW DID THEY LINE UP? THE MACEDONIANS THE PERSIANS Standard battle formation: infantry phalanx in the centre. Alexander and his Companion cavalry on the right wing. the Thessalians were on the left. THE PERSIANS Persians made the mistake of placing their cavalry in front of their infantry: the cavalry had no room to move. the infantry couldn’t move forward

HOW DID THE BATTLE BEGIN? Parmenio advises Alexander to wait for dawn. he feared fighting across a river at dusk too difficult. the Persians might also retreat during the night. Alexander attacks at once. he hoped to gain a moral victory by beating the Persians against the odds.

PHASE ONE Alexander entices the Persians to strengthen their left wing by moving himself and more cavalry to his right. Persians move men to cover this. EXACTLY what Alexander wanted as it leaves their centre weak.

PHASE TWO Cavalry Charge The hardest part of the battle. Amyntas’s cavalry diagonally crosses the river and attacks the Persian left. Persian left wing very strong and Macedonians suffer great casualties.

PHASE THREE Alexander attacks Persian centre while Amyntas holds the Persian left, Alexander and his Companion cavalry diagonally cross the river to attack the Persian centre. weakened Persian centre falls apart.

PHASE FOUR Persian wings collapses and battle ends both Persian wings flee when centre fails rest of Alexander’s army crosses river and surrounds suprised Greek mercenaries 18,000 mercenaries killed 2,000 taken as prisoners

NOTES ON THE BATTLE Alexander displayed superior tactics. cleverness to tempt the Persians to change their line personal leadership by fighting heroically (almost killed). Alexander never considered defeat. Alexander had enormous confidence in his army. the Persians were soundly beaten.